Tate McRae’s “So Close to What” is the third studio album by the singer. While the album leans heavily on her signature formula— repeated hooks with sultry, breathy vocals—it does so effectively. This creates an enjoyable, if not slightly repetitive, listening experience.
Miss possessive – 7/10
“Miss possessive” is a strong opener, setting the mood for the album well. Sydney Sweeney featured at the beginning adds to the song’s appeal. McRae’s improved enunciation from her past album makes the song more listenable. I found this track catchy but initially unappealing, it grows on you with time. However, it was a bit too repetitive in rhythm and could have benefited from a switch-up. Overall, a solid but not standout track.
Revolving door – 10/10
“Revolving door” instantly stood out as one of the best on the album on first listen and remains a favorite for me. The track is extremely catchy, even if the chorus repeats a lot, with the ethereal background vocals enhancing the atmosphere. The bridge is superb, and adds to the song’s danceability. I think this track is a perfect representation of McRae’s pop abilities.
Bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli) – 10/10
While initially off-putting (especially the baby voice intro), this track quickly became my favorite of the whole album. McRae’s “cursive singing” style she was initially criticized for is prominent in this track making the lyrics difficult to grasp on first listen, but once understood they make the song more enjoyable. Flo Milli’s feature is a seamless fit and gives a good break in the song from the repetition. This track is surprisingly deep and well-written, telling McRae’s story of moving on and healing from past relationships.
Dear god – 8/10
“Dear god” has a good balance of both scandalous and emotional qualities and balances the sultry and sad tones well. It is catchy but likely to lose appeal over time due to its repetitiveness. The track is not my personal favorite but is still enjoyable overall.
Purple lace bra – 9/10
“Purple lace bra” offers a refreshing change in vibe compared to the previous tracks, which have all been relatively upbeat. McRae’s breathy vocals contrast with deeper tones and add to the feel of the song. I enjoyed how the track was lyrically layered, and could also be seen as addressing the media and the way she is perceived by the public. Overall, she delivers a sad but well-executed message.
Sports car – 7/10
“Sports car” stands in sharp contrast to “Purple lace bra” with its sexual undertones. The track is very catchy but not necessarily my personal favorite, however, the bridge stood out to me. Overall, the song exudes a Britney Spears energy.
Signs – 9/10
“Signs” features more meaningful lyrics with a vulnerable side to them, while still being the catchiest song on the album. This song is a slight departure from the album’s overall sound of energetic dance music, which is refreshing to hear.
I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI) – 9/10
This track is, again, repetitive, yet enjoyable. I enjoyed LAROI’s feature and how it hinted at the relationship between them. McRae’s soft vocals throughout paired well with LAROI’s more energetic verse.
Like I do – 8/10
I found “Like I do” refreshing in that it’s not about love like the rest of the album. It has a calmer, vibe yet is still catchy, even if slightly repetitive.
It’s ok I’m ok – 7/10
“It’s ok I’m ok” was a good choice for a single, released on Sept. 12, showcasing the overall vibe of the album. Even though I found it very repetitive, it was very catchy and I appreciated the fact it would probably be a good dance song, which makes sense given McRae’s background.
No I’m not in love – 8/10
This track is very cute, likely referencing her current boyfriend, musical artist The Kid LAROI. I thought it had well-crafted lyrics and was overall very enjoyable. I enjoyed the beat switch, which gave a nice break from the expected sound.
Means I care – 8/10
“Means I care” is a more emotional, slower song. It’s a different vibe compared to the rest of the energetic album, which is a plus. However, the chorus isn’t as instantly catchy as the other songs on the album.
Greenlight – 8/10
“Greenlight” is also slower but is still very fun and catchy. Again, I thought it was slightly too similar to other songs, but still a very enjoyable song.
2 hands – 8/10
I found this song harder to enjoy because it was very overplayed but overall I think it is a good song. It is structured more traditionally with actual verses before the chorus so it feels more balanced than some of the other songs.
Siren sounds (bonus) – 9/10
“Siren sounds” was highly anticipated as a leaked song and it delivers expectations. It has a slightly different energy compared to the rest of the album, and is reminiscent of “Dancing With Our Hands Tied” from the album “reputation” by Taylor Swift.
Nostalgia – 7/10
“Nostalgia” was much more melancholic compared to the other tracks, so it was a much-needed vibe switch, though it comes too late in the album. The lyrics are a bit harder to interpret than the rest, which were relatively surface-level, but add depth to the project.
Overall album – 9/10
Overall, Tate McRae’s “So Close to What” is a very cohesive album. While it doesn’t fully showcase her vocal range, the album has many fun, short, repeatable tracks. I found that I lost interest as I progressed through the album due to the repetitive nature of the songs; nearly every song has an overly repeated chorus, making some of the tracks blend together. While a few more varied or experimental songs could have elevated it, “So Close to What” was still a very enjoyable listen.
